Water Adventures

40 Best Water Adventures in the PNW

40 Best Water Adventures in the PNW

River floats, hot springs and perfect paddling a short drive away

This article is the cover story of the August 2018 issue. Find more from the story here. Click here to subscribe. By Danielle Centoni, Sarah Edwards, Gwendolyn Elliott, Austin Iverson, Hilary Meyerson and Roddy Scheer Sure, we’ve got beautiful mountains, but what makes our region truly special is the abundance of water all around us. Especially when the…

7 Best Hot Springs in the PNW

7 Best Hot Springs in the PNW

They’re not as common here as in Yellowstone, but our thermal waters are worth seeking out

Visitors to Oregon’s Umpqua Hot Springs enjoy soaking in water that’s 100- to 115-degrees

Slow Lane: Float and Paddle Down the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon

Slow Lane: Float and Paddle Down the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon

Plus: Check out the kayaking at the Sunriver Marina on the Deschutes River

A group of friends enjoy a lazy float down the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon. Below: The river is also popular with paddle boarders, including the four-legged variety

Rafting the Wenatchee River Is an Epic Adventure

Rafting the Wenatchee River Is an Epic Adventure

A ride down the Wenatchee delivers chills, thrills—and family bonding moments

A guide with Blue Sky Outfitters leads a boatload of thrill-seekers through rapids on the Wenatchee River

Washington’s Best Rafting Rivers

Washington’s Best Rafting Rivers

Plus: when to go, what to wear and how far they are from Seattle

Rafters pause for a moment on the White Salmon River near Vancouver, Washington

Day Trip: Everett's Jetty Island Is a Low-Key Piece of Paradise

Day Trip: Everett’s Jetty Island Is a Low-Key Piece of Paradise

The simple pleasures of sand and water attract day-trippers to Jetty Island near Everett

This article is part of the cover story for the August 2018 issue. Find more from the story here. Click here to subscribe. It’s just 2 miles long and a quick three-minute foot-ferry ride from the mainland, but Jetty Island, formed over the past century out of accumulated sediment from the dredging of the Snohomish River, packs a full…

A Trip to the Gulf Islands, the San Juans' Canadian Cousins

A Trip to the Gulf Islands, the San Juans’ Canadian Cousins

A Gulf Islands trip delivers a calming adventure with thrills of a different kind

Kayakers paddle in the calm waters along the shores of Canada’s Gulf Islands, cousins to the San Juan Islands

Where to Kayak in Seattle

Where to Kayak in Seattle

And six places in the city where you can rent a kayak

This article is part of the cover story for the August 2018 issue. Find more from the story here. Click here to subscribe. With water all around Seattle, there are plenty of places to put in a kayak for a day on the water. But not all bodies of water are alike. We tapped Amanda Lee of Alki Kayak…

Beginner's Guide to Stand-Up Paddleboarding on Puget Sound

Beginner’s Guide to Stand-Up Paddleboarding on Puget Sound

Take a stand to experience the Northwest in a whole new way

Give it a try: A calm day on Puget Sound can be a good place to try stand-up paddleboarding

Where to Stand-Up Paddleboard in Seattle

Where to Stand-Up Paddleboard in Seattle

For beginner, intermediate, and advanced paddlers

A good place to SUP? Off Seward Park

6 Best Water-View Campsites in the PNW

6 Best Water-View Campsites in the PNW

Pitch your tent or park your RV at one of these waterfront or water-view spots, where you’ll wake up to the soothing sounds of lakes, falls, rivers, or the sea

Campsites at Spencer Spit State Park on Lopez Island come with water views and plenty of space to pull up a kayak

4 Washington Water Parks For Kids of All Ages

4 Washington Water Parks For Kids of All Ages

Kids of all ages pack these giant water playgrounds—and with each park’s unique personality, you may want to try them all

This article is part of the cover story for the August 2018 issue. Find more from the story here. Click here to subscribe. Kids of all ages pack these giant water playgrounds—and with each park’s unique personality, you may want to try them all

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